Windows 8.1 will RTM in August, release ‘in time for the holidays,’ despite bug concerns

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At its Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC), Microsoft has announced that Windows 8.1 will RTM (release to manufacturing) in late August. If all goes to plan and it follows a similar trajectory to Windows 8, Windows 8.1 should have a release date in October or November — or, in the words of Brandon LeBlanc, a Microsoft communications manager, “just in time for the holidays!” It seems that, despite the sizable number of bugs in Windows 8.1 Preview, Microsoft is intent on pushing ahead with its new, every-year-instead-of-every-three-years rapid release cycle. Will this approach backfire, or will Microsoft have Windows 8.1 cleaned up in time for August?

Windows 8.1, which introduces support for smaller 7- and 8-inch tablets, and better multi-monitor and mouse-and-keyboard support, is a very important release for Microsoft. Windows 8, in its original form, was really only optimized for 10-inch tablets — and as the last year has shown, except for the iPad, the market is still mostly interested in desktops, laptops, and smaller 7- and 8-inch tablets. As a result, Windows 8 has really struggled to find its footing, and has understandably flopped. By allowing OEMs to produce low-res and small-screen tablets, and making the Desktop experience a lot less painful, Microsoft hopes that Windows 8.1 can finally drive widescale adoption.

Considering the amount of bugs in the Windows 8.1 Preview, though, an RTM at the end of August might be a little presumptuous. From lock screen bugs, to the Windows Store and Internet Explorer not working, to Desktop icons being immovable, Windows 8.1 feels buggier than Windows 8. As you can see in our hands-on review of Windows 8.1 below, there’s also a nasty bug that causes the “search everything” feature to hang for a few seconds — a big issue, when this is one of the main features being offered as an olive branch to mouse-and-keyboard Desktop users.

Windows 8 was released to manufacturing on August 1, 2012, and was released to the public on October 26. Windows 8.1 will RTM “in late August,” and so presumably general availability might be pushed back to November. The fact that Windows 8.1 will be released through the Windows Store, rather than as a separate installer, might also affect the release schedule. From our own industry sources, we’ve heard that there should be a large number of interesting devices available at Windows 8.1’s launch — most excitingly, some Bay Trail-powered 7- and 8-inch tablets. For existing users of Windows 8 and Windows RT, Windows 8.1 will be a free upgrade — and for RT users, that should mean the inclusion of the new Outlook RT app.

So it’s the shiny glass effect on the windows, like I said. The only part I apparently missed was the pop-up windows when you hover over taskbar icons…

Bryan_S

No, Aero is the display manager.
Aero glass is a feature of that display manager.

Other features include… a start menu.
Limiting options should never be considered a feature.

If you want to disable stuff by default fine… but don’t remove eye-candy and claim performance improvements.

Jamie MacDonald

I didn’t remove it, as I’m not an MS employee.

You can get the Start menu back with apps anyway.

Bryan_S

As you didn’t even know what it was… I know that you didn’t remove it… As you don’t even know what it was… those add-ons don’t fix the full problem. You shouldn’t have to pay to get back a feature.

darkcg

Wrong. Windows’ display manager is called WDM (guess what, Windows Display Manager). Aero is just a compositing engine. That means it’s just shiny glass effects. Study your facts before invoking google.com for others, when you’re the first you need to search something.

Ray C

I don’t see the problem. That is the point of the preview release. You release it. You let people find bugs and functionality improvements for the final release or the next update. So, far I’m already liking the preview and looking forward to next year’s update.

I hate socialists

Shhhhh metroturd and msft shill.

WiNC0de

I don’t care when it’s released, just fix the internet connectivity issue! Also add simplicity to this OS to make it more efficient like the iOS is.

There’s a very major bug that makes the Start menu disappear!!!! Apparently, it affects sales.

Gerhard Klopper

I hate people ranting because they see fault in everything. Besides, this is still in development. It still has a lot of work to be done to it. I’m going to leave this page.

Dr_Abc

Bugs, bugs, bugs, everything has bugs, they are not releasing it and forgetting it, they are releasing it and updating it every week.

Random Guy

I don’t understand this…Microsoft seems to release a completely new OS every few years, the OS struggles to shine initially every time (XP, Vista, 7, 8), customers do not want to adopt it….they hate the changes……

But when I look at apple, they don’t seem to change everything overnight and create buggy software!! They seem to only better what is always a consistent looking software, without changing it from head to toe! And they seem to release a new version every year without releasing too many bugs!!

darkcg

In fact, they lack innovation. MacOS X is a stagnating OS. And they charge money for a bunch of minor features.

GuiltyGear

um. . isn’t that because apple’s MacOS has less programs to support . . . :/

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